Theories of society - Coursework Example

Theories of society Journal Entry 1 Functionalism Structural functionalism is a sociological term that describes and interprets society as a structure that is in symbiotic relation to other different aspects. This theory describes society as a whole in relation to its functional elements such as traditions, customs, norms and institutions. The best way to understand this theory is to take the approach suggested by Spencer and consider elements of society as organs that are required to work together in order for the body to function. If one aspect of society is not correctly functioning it will have an adverse influence on other aspects causing an overall decrease in societal standards. Conflict theory The conflict theory describes the basic structure of society. Society comprised of different individuals who categorized into different societal circles depending on their wealth. Hence, this shows that money is one of the main reasons why there is conflict in society. Despite the commonly used phrase, “money isn’t everything”, the society we live in today clearly falsifies this theory. People with money use this to subject people who are less fortunate as they often occupy positions of power. This theory shows that money is the main cause of social disorder as it usually leads to certain individuals gaining at others’ expense. Feminist theory This is a theory whose fundamentals are based on gender equality and correcting the previous oppression and discrimination that was faced by women based on their sex. Feminism analyses the social roles that are occupied by women in comparison to their male counterparts. In addition, women also go through many experiences for example childbirth that should also be addressed to ensure that they are not disadvantaged in society due to their physiological demands. The feminist theory is similar to other minority theories that are aimed at correcting in justices of the past. Journal entry 2 When using search engine it is important to use sources that have academic credibility. In addition, the presentation of these sources is also important in assisting an individual to find the information he or she requires. A good search engine makes the sourcing of data simpler and hence improves the quality of one’s work as he or she is able to gain access to the exact information he or she requires. The McMaster university library is a good search engine for sociological abstracts. However, in order for one to access this library and the search engine, he or she must have a MAC login and ID. Hence, the majority of individuals will not be able to gain access to this data. Nevertheless, this search engine will be used to provide an example of a good search engine. The MAC search engine enables one to search using titles, key words or branches of sociology. It provides access to sociological abstract from 1952 to the present date. The library is good in the sense that it has a broad base of information and by just typing the key words many articles can be seen. There is also the opportunity to adjust the articles that will show up in the search engine. This can be by the date of publication or by the author of the article. I will use this search engine again as it is very well organized and all the information is easily accessible. There is also a broad range of articles that are available on different sociological topics. This makes it easy to compare information especially when writing a research article with conflicting opinions and theories. I feel this search engine is good enough and I can prolong my membership with this library. There are many other sources and search engines that have similar setups, however, it is difficult to find the ideal engine and I was fortunate to come across this one. Journal Entry 3 Early socialization is an essential step in the building of an individual’s character and personality. This is the first form of human contact and interaction that an individual encounters during the first stages of his or her life (Hayes & Hamilton, 2013). Therefore, the first lesson one learns through early socialization is how to relate to other individuals. It is essential that the process of early interaction is done in a conducive environment around individuals who will not have a negative impact on the mindset of the child (Hayes & Hamilton, 2013). Individuals who have the first socialization with a child can have a positive or negative impact. I learnt many messages from early socialization. One of the things that a human learns in this phase of development is empathy and that one should always relate to others the way he or she wishes to be treated. Despite the fact that some empathetic aspects in humans are innate, the environment has a role in shaping the presentation of these factors and the future character of an individual. Another message that can be learnt from early socialization is discipline. In this stage of development an individual is able to learn the consequences of his or her actions. Hence, the approach taken by the parents in discipline their children is very important in shaping the way they develop as adults. For example, some parents scold and beat their children as a disciplinary measure. These children have been found to develop at different rates to parents who take a proactive approach. Children who are exposed to the later environment gain a sense of responsibility and self awareness much earlier. Children who are exposed to scolding tend to develop very low self esteems. Today there are many questionable socialized messages due to the changing times and developments. For example, televisions expose children to other forms of contact and messages which at times are inappropriate. The gender message that is spread in the majority of mass media sources is also questionable and gives young girls a false representation of their identity. Women are presented as sex symbols and they are not given any other qualities. Therefore, young girls may get the image that their lives are solely dependent on their looks which can have a negative impact on their future life choices. Journal Entry 4 I am naturally a very observant and analytical person hence I think a lot about everything I do including the things I buy. The majority of times, I often sit and plan what I am going to buy. Depending on the relevance of the item I intend to purchase, I can spend very long hours or even days in this process. I generally buy things based on two concepts; whether I need something or whether I want something. If I need something my planning process is generally shorter. My wants are harder to satisfy as I often take long contemplating on the best choice and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the different options I have. As mentioned above, I buy things based on two main criteria; hence I do not need all the things I buy. However, everything I buy has a specific meaning and value to me. There is always a reason for the things I buy even if I do not necessarily need all of them. There are many things that influence the things I want and I think marketing plays a large role in this aspect. As I mentioned above, before I buy something I always research on the features of this product and the way it is marketed and presented and can convince me to buy it. I have many different things that I have bought based on a commercial I saw on TV. Another factor that is important in convincing individuals to purchase certain products is celebrity endorsement. When I see my favorite basketball player wearing a particular shoe or advertising a certain product, I’m driven towards this product and I feel the same happens to many other individuals. Journal Assignment 5 The main argument that is presented in the literature I read is that one must always aim to do social good in any of the spheres that he or she wishes to venture (Reich, 2010). Robert Reich (2010) argues that the lines and boundaries that exist between public, private and social sectors have played a role in obscuring and inhibiting the places where social changes can be implemented. Individuals are now mainly focused on their professional greed and are caught up in trying to perform their occupational tasks that they forget their role as humans in society. In the lecture given by Reich to the Stanford Class of 2011, he reminds the pupils that they should adhere to the Stanford Mission statement even in their careers and continue to do good to society. I completely agree with the message that is conveyed by Robert Reich. The world today is one that pushes people into a professional corner where they forget other social obligations. An example can be in the healthcare industry where millions due to the inability to afford a decent healthcare plan, and yet there are many professionals who can help these individuals. There are very few healthcare professionals who perform their roles on a charity basis for the good of society. In addition, the competition that exists in other industries has also led people to forget their morality in order to succeed professionally. People sacrifice their morality, friendships and image as this is what is required in some industries for one to get ahead of his or her competitors or peers. Despite the fact that these attitudes are good for business they have a negative impact on society. Civilization has created a humane society with many morals and these are constantly lost with the new attitudes and behaviors that are being adopted by people today. The process of creating morals and societal norms is one which cannot be undermined for professional gains as it has taken centuries to establish. Journal Entry 6 Sex can be defined as the biological differences between males and females that include hormonal profiles, chromosomes, external and internal sex organs. Gender on the other hand, is a description of the characteristics that are determined by society to be feminine or masculine. Therefore, gender is something subjective, whereas sex is an objective trait. Feminists and other related movements aim to change the different gender roles in society as these frequently degrade women and consider them as secondary to their male counterparts. Gender roles often affect many aspects of society such as employment and the different career choices that people make. For example, some jobs are considered to be masculine and other feminine. Growing up the main gendered message I came across was that woman have to be at home for the majority of the time and take care of children whilst the man has to work and provide for the family. A movie that has gendered messages is Think like a man. This movie raises the suggestion that the world we live in today is dominated and controlled by men. The women in this movie require a book in order to have an advantage over their male counterparts. However, at the end the men find out that the women have this book and use this against them. In the movie women are indicated as the weaker sex and are always put through emotional problems. The movie has one strong independent woman in the movie whose friend suggests that she changes her strong personality in order to be more presentable to men. Journal Entry 7 Society has many problems and I think one of the main issues that should be discussed is parenting. Parenting is an important aspect of society as it helps shape the future generation. There are currently many views on disciplining and raising children and parents need to be taught the different implications of their actions on their children. If this issue is addressed it could resolve many different problems that are affecting society today due to individuals who develop deviant characters. The way a child is raised will have an influence on the choices he or she makes in the future and learning this aspect would benefit the general public. This can help molding future leaders in the community and allow children to reach their full potential without any disturbances from nurture factors. References Hayes, A. R., & Hamilton, V. (2013). The Role of Schools in the Early Socialization of Gender Differences. Reich, R. B. (2010). The Work of Nations: Preparing Ourselves for 21st Century Capitalis. Random House LLC. Read More